On Thu, 23 Oct 1997, Dianne Langley wrote:

<snip>

       Because isn't that kind of the point?  That "the love that dares
not speak its name" is love first and foremost?

        Okay, I'm blind.  I had _NO_ idea that Tita and Elysse were gay!  I
mean, mt friends and I joked about it, but that's all!  Did anyone else not
know this, or am I just a stupid young weirdo who can't see the obvious?

Mako

I'm of two connected opinions about this:
1 - It could go either way - Tita and Elysse might be lesbian, or might
not. (More on this in a moment)
2 - How much does it *matter* to the (original) story whether they are or
not?

There is only relatively circumstantial evidence for Tita and Elysse being
lovers, the strongest of which are them sleeping in bed together (and we
only see them asleep, although cuddled up), and Tita's inviting Elysse
to remain aboard the Cha Cha Maru. To me, it's just as possible that they
never 'sleep together' in the other sense, and become very close friends
in the brief time they know each other. Keep in mind that neither of them
may have had regular friends while they were growing up - Elysse certainly
suggests as much when they're being chased by armored assault aircraft,
and Tita was orphaned (as far as we know) when her father gave his life to
save the ship.

But *does* it matter whether Tita and Elysse are lovers or friends? The
story is just as poignant either way, IMO; the only thing that may change
is the intensity of emotions that the characters felt, and that's not
something that reflects directly on-screen. Their actions wouldn't
necessarily change; the plot almost certainly wouldn't. It probably goes
without saying that I don't consider Plastic Little a love story, but more
of a drama (with sci-fi and some action elements). The story is still just
as strong - at least it is to me.

				Tim Miller
					trmiller@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us